Shoe-tip gage



W. A. TURNER.

SHUE TIP GAGE.

APPLICATION msn MAmzs. Isls,

1,363,293, Patented Dea. 28, 1920.

dife/agg entren stares Nrefrrezar orti-ce,

WILLIAM A. TURNER, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN'E -LASSIGMENTS TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, 4Olti `1.AIEIIILSOIL NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-TIP GAGE.

Application led March 28, 1916.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, countyof Cumberland, State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Tip Gages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to measuring apparatus and particularly to apparatus for gaging the caps or tips of shoes, boots and other footwear.

In lasting a shoe the upper is pulled over by the operative and taclred to the last, the proper relation of the parts of the shoe being judged by the eye. @ne of the most difficult features to judge in this operation is the location of the toe cap which in each design has a definite characteristic set and relation to other lines of the shoe. It is important properly to locate the line of the edge at the rear of the cap. or tip line as it is called. lengthwise of the shoe and to determine the angle of that line to a line of reference such, for example, as the longitudinal median line ofthe forepart of the shoe. j

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, it has been customaryto locate the tips solely by eye. That is to say, the laster relied wholly upon his own personal sense of dimension and proportion for this purpose. This has necessarily caused some variation in the tips because of the evident impossibility of uniformly accurate judgment. Usually the lasters succeed in producing fairly standard results, but even skill and care have not wholly eliminated the factor of human error, and shoes Vhaving tips which vary considerably have to be paired up to avoid unreasonable loss in mating. Indeed., this source of loss is one of the most serious in the shoe factory, involving as it does a considerable economic waste on'unmated shoes. It has therefore been the custom to figure that so many pairs of shoes will not` pass inspection on this account alone and to base all other production vcalculation upon these figures.

The object of my invention is to provide in a simple and readily manipulatable form Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 87,318.

a gage for accurately measuring shoe tips both for lengthandswing or angle of the shoe which will eliminate the waste incident to the usual method of gaging by eye. This object is secured by the gage of the present invention.

Features of the invention'consist in asupport for locating in predetermined position a lasted shoe having a toe cap, and gaging means arranged for angular adjustment dto indicate the angular-relation of the tip line to the longitudinal median line of theshoe. Preferably the gaging means extends transverscly across the shoetoe and is `provided with a sighting portion or edge with which the direction of the tip line maybe compared. In the construction shown herein, the gaging means is adjustable longitudinally of the shoe to indicate also the length of the toe cap or tip and is'held out of contact withthe cap. Preferably the gaging means is adjustable perpendicularly of the shoe bottom to accommodate toes of different heights and is arranged to yield in a direction away from the toe.

Other features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the construction and operation of the device is fully disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying the `specification I have shown an embodiment which has been found satisfactory in use. Throughout the specification and drawings like reference characters are correspondingly applied, and in these drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of the gage in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with a shoe positioned thereon for gaging.

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. et is a top plan view of the sliding pivot shown in Fig. 3.

My device consists of a Hat rest plate 1 divided centrally of its length by a vertical partition 2 to provide for gaging both right, and left shoes, and has a transverse l vall 3 extending across its front end, and

provided with suitable bearing portions 3', against which the tip of the shoe is adapted to be placed with the shoe itself resting upon the rest plate 1 with its inner edge bearing against the partition 2.

rlhe plate 1 is adapted to be positioned in inclined relation to a work bench or other surface and for this purpose a vertical support 4 is secured to its front wall 3 preferably centrally thereof. The support 4 has a dat foot portion 5 which with a pair of similar foot portions 6 secured to the under side of the rest plate 1 at its lower edge disposes the device in the position shown in Fig. 1. lf desired the support `4 may be braced by any suitable transverse brace member 7 disposed between it and the rest plate.

The upper end of the support 4 is bent forwardly and extends as a section 8 conforming to and backing the wall 3 and terminating in a flat section 9 extended forwardly in the general plane of the device.

rlhe section 9 provides a flat slide-way for a slide element 10 which terminates at its upper edge in an arcually curved portion bearing a series of graduations 11 with which cooperates one edge of an index pointer 12 for indicating shoe sizes. The slide 10 is suitably guided on the slide-way 9 by lugs 10 formed on the lateral edges of the slide. The pointer 12 operates the slide and for this purpose may conveniently be` formed as an arm or extension of a cam plate 13 which is pivotally mounted at 14 on the slide-way9 and has operative connection therewith through a cam slot 15 in the plate and a pin 16 on the slide and disposed in said slot 15. The slide itself has adjustable sliding travel on the slide-way 9 along the pivot 14 for the cam plate which may conveniently be formed as a headed screw or equivalent device adjustable in an elongated slot 17 in the slide-way. This adjustment is effected and held by a thumb piece 18 on a nut 19 carried by the pivot 14. The sliding connection 14-17 thus provides for an original adjustment of the slide enabling the device to be set for the standard length of tips according to the particular style, design or pattern of the shoe. The adjustment for the particular size of shoe being gaged is had by turning the pointer 12, which may conveniently be provided with an operating knob 20, until the reading edge thereof registers with that graduation of the series of graduations 11 corresponding to the size of the shoe being gaged. This movement of the cam plate 18 through the cam slot 15 and pin 16 automatically moves the slide longitudinally. causing a chance of La o i n. 2:7

gaging position of certain gage members 21 carried by said slide with respect to the line at the rear of the toe cap, and thereby accurately` indicating the proper length of cap for a shoe of that size and pattern. The

pivot 14 is held from turning in its slot 17 during this movement while free to slide longitudinally therein by a shoulder 22 thereon.

The gage members 21 are preferably formed as l... shaped arms pivoted on a common pivot 23 to the forward end of an extension 24 of the slide 10. The extension 24 is hinged at 25 on the forward end of the slide proper in overlying relation to the rest plate to permit the lasted upper to be readily placed upon and removed from the rest plate. The adjustment of said extension with respect to the rest plate is effected and held by a milled thumb screw 25 and check nut 26. rlhis allows the extension 24 to be swung up out of the way while inserting or removing a shoe, thereby avoiding injury to the shoe, and enables the gage arms or indicators to be adjusted down toward the toe cap for measuring. rllhe longitudinally disposed portions of the gage arms have their inner opposed edges formed as diverging surfaces 2T with which coperates an adjusting screw 28 slidably mounted in an elongated slot 27 in the member 24, whereby to swing said arms laterally on their pivot 28 against the action of a coil spring 30 fastened at its ends to oppositely disposed pins 31 on the rear ends of said arms. The horizontally disposed lateral portions 32 of the gage arms are normally disposed at right angles to the longitudinal partition 2 which is the plane of the rear of the toe cap in a straight last shoe.

ln lasts that have considerable swing or curve, however, the angle is considerable, and this angle is gaged by the arms 21 v-,fhich are automatically swung laterally on their pivot 23 by moving the screw 28 in the slot 2?. the engagement of this screw with. the inclined edges 27 moving the arms. lf desired suitable graduations may be provided for indicating these angles.

l'n gaging toe caps for high-heeled shoes, it is desired to provide for elevating the heel part of the last to prevent the toe part from being unduly tipped up. For this purpose the rear portion of the rest plate may conveniently be formed with a raised bearing 33 for the heel part of each last whereby to correctly position the toe cap with relation to the gaging arms. l

As before indicated, my device is usually to be employed as a check upon the customary method of gaging by eye, in which the shoe is gaged by eye by the laster at the time he `draws over the upper and tacks it on the last or while it is being pulled over in the pulling-over machine. Before or after such test, the laster sets the slide 10 by means of the thumb nut 18 for the standard known length of toe caps according to the particular design of shoe. The

lasted upper isthen placed upon the r,est plate l with its tip bearing against the Wall 3 and its inner edge against the vertical partition 2. The pointer 12 is then turned to bring its measuring edge in register with the graduation ll for the particular size of shoe being measured and this movement through the connections described causes the slide 10 and arms 21 to move rearwardly to a position in Which the horizontal portions oll said arms will indicate the correct plane in which the rear of the toe cap should lie. This is the adjustment for length, and Where the tip line is substantially at right angles to the partition 2 as in straight lasts, also indicates the angle for the caps of such shoes. lVhere the shoes have considerable swing the angle of the toe cap is gaged by means of the arms 21 Which are swung laterally on their pivot 23 by adjusting the thumb screw 2S in its slot 27', to cause the lateral portions to indicate the correct angle. The Workman then, by sighting at the tip line past the sighting edges oi" the portions 32, may ascertain Whether the angle of the tip line ot' the shoes corresponds to the correct angle indicated by the sighting edge of the portion 32. It' these measurements show that he has inaccurately gaged the shoe by eye he corrects the mistake by removing some or all ot the tacks and relocating the tip line so as to take care of the inaccuracy. At this stage in the manufacture ot the shoe the correction of an error ot this nature is comparatively simple, While at a later stage it is practically impossible ot correction.

Various modifications in the form and construction of my device may obviously be resorted to Within the limits of the .1- pended claims.

lllhat I therefore claim and desire to sccure by Letters Patent is:

l. .A gaging device comprising a support for a. shoe or lasted upper and having toe and side rests, and a gage mounted on the support ttor indicating the length ot the toe cap oi a shoe or upper and the angular relation of the cap relatively to said side rests Without contact With the cap.

2. A gaging device 'For toe caps, comprising a support having a transversely extending portion providing a bearing against which 'one end of a lasted upper is adapted to be placed and having a longitudinally extending portion providing a bearing for one edge of the upper, and an angularly i adjustable effectively disposed relative to said support 'for measuring the length ot' the cap and indicating the alinement of the cap seam or edge.

n 3. A kgaging device for toe caps, comprising a support having a transverse Wall at one edge providing'abearing againstwhich one end of a lasted `upper is adapted to be placed and having alongitudinal partition providing a bearing for the inner edges of right and left lasted uppers, and a gage effectively disposed relative to said support having angularly adjustable members for indicating the alinement of the toe cap ot shoes or lasted uppers.

4:. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support having a longitudinal partition providing a bearing against which the inner edges of right and left lasted uppers are adapted to be placed, and an overhang ing gage slidably disposed relative to said support and angularly adjustable to indicate the alinement of the cap on the upper or uppers.

5. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support having a centrally disposed longitudinal partition providing a bearing against Which the inner edges of right and left lasted uppers are adapted to be placed and a swinging gage slidably disposed relative to said support for measuring the length of the cap.

6. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support constructed and arranged to locate the toe cap in a predetermined position, a gage thereonl for measuring the 'length oi' the cap, means for varying the longitudinal position ot said gage `With relation to the toe cap, and means for varying the angular position of said gage with relation to the toe cap to indicate the alinement of the cap.

7. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support constructed and arranged to locate the toe cap in a predetermined position, a length gage thereon, means for varying the longitudinal position of said gage with relation to the toe cap, and independently operable means for varying the angular position of said gage with relation to the toe cap to indicate the alinement of the cap. 4

8. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support constructed and arranged to determine the position of a lasted upper or shoe including a toe cap, means mounted on the support for indicating sizes, and an angular gage movable to correspond to an indicated size and to coincide with the edge or seam of a cap on the upper or shoe.

9. A gaging device, comprising a supiort for a lasted upper or shoe having a toe cap, a movable 'gage mounted on the support and having a sighting edge adapted to overlie the cap laterally, means for indicating shoe sizes, and means operated by an element of Said indicating means for moving said gage to correspond to an indicated size.

10. A gaging device, comprising a support for a toe cap, a movable gage for alining with the seam or edge of a cap, means for indicating shoe sizes, means operated by an element of -said indicating means for moving said gage to correspond to an indicated size, and independently operable means for moving said gage angularly with relation to a toe cap.

1l. A gaging device comprising a support for a toe cap, a movable member having size indications, a swingable member adapted to be moved to a size indication on the movable member and connections between the members to move said movable member a distance corresponding to the movement of the swingable member, and a gage operated by said movable member.

l2. A gaging device, comprising a support for a toe cap, a slidable member having size indications, a swingable member adapted to be moved to a size indication on said member and connections between the members to move said slidable member a distance corresponding to the movement of the swingable member, a gage operated by said movable member, and means 'for varying the angularity of said gage.

13. A gaging device, comprising a support for a toe cap, a slide having size indications, a swingable member adapted to be moved to a size indication on the slide, con! nections between. the slide and the member to move said slide a distance corresponding to the movement of the member, a operated by said slide, and a pin and slot connection and a cam surface for moving said gage angularly independently of the actuation of said slide.

ll. A gaging device for toe caps, comprising a support for a toe cap and having a slideway, a slide on said slideivay and a measuring and alinement gage hingedly connected to and operated by said slide.

l5. A gaging device comprising a support for a toe cap having a slideway, a slide in said slideway having size indications, a pointer adapted to be moved to a size indication Von the slide, a cam plate connected to said slide and for causing said slide to be actuated by the movement oi said pointer, a pivoted gage actuated by said slide, and having a cam surface, and a pin and slot connection for moving saitL gage angularly in a horizontal plane independently oi the actuation of said slide.

i6. A gaging device, coi'nprising a support for a toe cap, and having a slideway, a slide in said slideway having a series of size indications, means ior regulating the adjustment of said slide in said slideway, a pointer pivoted on the slideway and movable to a size indication on the slide, means connected with said slide and operated by said pointer for moving said Slide a distance corresponding to the movement of said pointer, an extension pivoted to move with said slide and overlying the toe cap, a pair of gage arms pivoted to said extension and moving therewith, and means between said extension and arms for moving said arms angularly independently of the movement of said slide.

17. A gaging device, comprising a support for a toe cap, and having a slideway, a slide in said 'slideway having a series of size indications, a screw and slot connection in said slideway for regulating the adjustment of said slide in said slideway, a pivoted pointer movable to a size indication and pivoted on said screw, a pin on the slideway, a cam plate connected with said slide and cooperating with the pin and operated by said pointer for moving said slide a distance corresponding to the movement of said pointer, an extension pivoted to move with said slide and overlying the -toe cap, a pair of gage arms pivoted on a common pivot and having their inner edges inclined away from each other, a sliding connection between said extension and arms including a part engaging said inclined edges of the arms for moving said arms angularly independently of the movement of said slide.

18. A gaging device comprising a rest plate for supporting a lasted shoe with its toe cap in a predetermined position, a support for said plate arranged to hold the plate in upwardly inclined relation to the horizontal, and a movable gage overlying said plate and the cap and adjustable longitudinally and angularly with relation to the toe cap for measuring the length of the cap and indicating the angular relation of the edge of the cap to the longitudinal median line of the shoe located in said predetermined position.

19. A gaging device for a toe cap, comprising a rest plate, a support for disposing said plate in inclined position to the horizontal, and an extension on said support disposed in the general plane or' the device and providing a slideway, and a gage slidably mounted relative to said slideway and adapted to overlap the toe of the lasted upper on the plate.

20. A gaging device, comprising means for supporting a toe cap on a lasted upper or shoe in a predetermined position, a transversely disposed gage movable longitudinally and angularly with relation to and over the toe cap,means for adjusting the gage device to a predetermined indicated size, and means for adjusting the said gage to a predetermined angular relation for indicating the length of the cap and the angular position of the cap edge or seam.

21. 1n a gaging device for measuring and indicating the position of lasted toe caps,

a support constructed and arranged to dispose the lasted toe cap in a predetermined position, and a gage adjustable on the support in overhanging position With relation to the toe cap Without contact with the cap to indicate its length and angular position.

22. In a gaging device for toe caps, a support for disposing a toe cap in a predetermined position, an indicator pivotally movable relatively to saidsupport for adjustment toward and away from the toe cap, and means for moving said indicator longitudinally with relation to the toe cap t-o indicate its length.

23. In a gaging device for toe caps, or' lasted uppers or shoes, a support for disposing a toe cap in a predetermined position, a gage pivotally movable relatively to said support for overhanging adjustment toward and away from the top of the toe cap, and means for moving said gage longitudinally With relation to the toe cap to measure its length and means for moving said gage angularly in a horizontal plane with relation to the toe cap to indicate the angle of the edge or seam thereof.

24. In an apparatus for measuring the angular alinement and the length of toe caps of shoes and lasted uppers, means adapted to be adjusted in overhanging relation to the shoe or upper to be measured and having a transversely projecting indicating device arranged to project entirely across the toe portion of a shoe or shoes to aline with the edge or edges of the toe caps Without contact therewith, and means for adjusting the measuring position thereof With relation to the shoe or shoes.

25. In an apparatus for measuring the length of toe caps on shoes or lasted uppers, a support for engaging the ends of the toe portions of the shoes or uppers to be measured and the sides thereof to hold them in a predetermined position and a device having measuring edges arranged to project transversely, substantially entirely across the top of the shoes or uppers to be measured to indicate Without contact the length of the toe caps and the angularity of the edges or seams of the caps relatively to the side engaging parts of the support.

26. In an apparatus for measuring the length of toe caps on shoes or lasted uppers, a support for engaging the ends of the toe portions of the shoes or uppers to be measured and the sides thereof to hold them in a predetermined position and a device having relatively yieldable measuring members arranged to project transversely, substan- 'tially entirely across the top of the shoes or uppers to be measured to indicate Without Contact the length of the toe caps and the angularity of the edges or seams of the caps relatively-to the side engaging parts of the support.

27. In an apparatus for measuring the length of toe caps on shoes or lasted uppers, a support for engaging the ends of the toe portions of the shoes or uppers to be measured and the sides thereof to hold them in a predetermined position and a device having relatively yieldable measuring members arranged to project transversely, substantially entirely across the top of the shoes or uppers to be measured to indicate Without Contact the length of the toe caps and the angularity of the edges or seams of the caps relatively to the side engaging parts of the support, and means for varying the relative positions of said yielding members.

28. In an apparatus for measuring the length of toe caps, and indicating the angularity of their seams or edges with relation to the shoe or upper on Which the cap is applied, a support for positioning one or more shoes or uppers having toe caps to be measured, a mounted gage on the support and adapted to be moved into overhanging position above the tops of the toe caps and having sighting edges arranged to project transversely across the caps, and means for varying the overhanging position of the gage to prevent contact of the gage with toe caps ot different heights.

29. A gaging device comprising a support constructed and arranged to locate in predetermined position a lasted shoe having a toe cap, a memberl movable on the support longitudinally of the shoe and having size indications, a member mounted to swing past said indications, connections between said members to effect longitudinal movement of one by the swinging movement of the other, and a tip length gage operated by the longitudinally movable member.

30. A gaging device, comprising a support for locating a lasted shoe in a predetermined position, a tip gage mounted for movement relatively to the support and having a sighting edge arranged to overlie the tip, means for effecting adjustment of the gage longitudinally of the shoe for shoes having diiferent styles of tips, and additional means for adjusting the gage for different sizes of a given style.

3l. A gaging device for toe caps comprising a support for locating in predetermined position a lasted shoe having a toe cap, and gaging' means having a predetermined position relatively to said support and arranged for angular adjustment relatively to the support to indicate the angular position of the tip line relatively to the longitudinal median line of the shoe.

32. A gaging device for toe caps comprising a support for locating in predetermined position a lasted shoe having` a toe cap, gagangular position of the sighting portion ing means having a predetermined position relatively to the said median line. 10 relatively to said support, extending trans- In testimony whereof I aiix my signature Versely across the shoe toe and having a in presence of two Witnesses.

5 sighting portion With which the angular WILLIAM A. TURNER.

position of the tip line relatively to the Vitnesses: longitudinally median line of the shoe may GEORGE B. RAWLINGS, be compared, and means for varying the VICTORIA LoWDnN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,363,293, granted December 28,

1920, upon the application of William A. Turner, of Portland, Maine, for an im provement in Shoe-Tip Gages,

an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 88, claim 28, for the Words mounted gage read gageimormted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this Correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oee.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of April, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] T. E. ROBERTSON,

Commissioner of Patents. 

